Objective An organic layer prepared from the cortex of Morus alba (Moraceae) was studied in order to identify the active compounds for heparinase. Methods Bioassay-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of sanggenon G Results The compound showed inhibitory activity with IC50 of 3.7 μmol/L on heparinase in vitro as well as 24 μmol/L in invasion assay using MDA-MB231 cells. Sanggenon G also had the moderate cytotoxicity at SW 620 (colon) and ACHN (kidney) cancer cell lines with IC50 of 10.96 and 13.44 μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion This is the first time that prenylated flavonoid sanggenon G is described as heparinase inhibitor. Besides, this flavonoid would be expected to be a metastasis inhibitor of cancer cells and also a valuable reagent to explore the mechanism of heparinase/heparanase-mediated metastasis.

Objective To identify the active compounds for protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) from the seeds of Plantago asiatica. Methods Bioassay-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of iridoid glucosides (1-5) with PTP1B inhibitory activity. Results Five compounds were identified as desacetylhookerioside (1), melittoside (2), geniposidic acid (3), 10-O-acetyl-geniposidic acid (4), and alpinoside (5). Conclusion Isolated compounds 3-5 inhibit PTP1B with IC50 values ranged from (16.3 ± 1.1) to (19.8 ± 1.2) μmol/L.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face an increased risk of airborne infections owing to close patient contact and extended shifts. N95 respirators require routine fit testing to ensure effective protection. This study assessed the fit stability of N95 masks among nurses working in airborne infection units, using annual fit tests to observe changes over time. Methods: From May 2020 to January 2023, 37 nurses from the high-risk airborne infection units of a university hospital participated in this study. The fit tests followed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Quantitative Fit Testing protocol, and non-parametric statistical analyses were applied. Nurses received formal annual training on N95 mask use and individualized guidance before each fit test. Results: In the initial test, 46.0% passed; of these, 15 consistently passed the second test (Group 1, Pass-Pass) and 2 failed (Group 2, Pass-Fail). No significant associations were found between demographic or job factors and the fit test outcomes. Average fit scores decreased from 100.79 (±58.22) initially to 32.25 (±66.54) in the second test, showing variability. Conclusion Ongoing training and experience improved fit consistency over time, emphasizing the importance of regular education. Rather than testing annually, targeted testing when selecting a new respirator or performing subsequent facial changes may enhance the protection of HCWs and reduce costs.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face an increased risk of airborne infections owing to close patient contact and extended shifts. N95 respirators require routine fit testing to ensure effective protection. This study assessed the fit stability of N95 masks among nurses working in airborne infection units, using annual fit tests to observe changes over time. Methods: From May 2020 to January 2023, 37 nurses from the high-risk airborne infection units of a university hospital participated in this study. The fit tests followed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Quantitative Fit Testing protocol, and non-parametric statistical analyses were applied. Nurses received formal annual training on N95 mask use and individualized guidance before each fit test. Results: In the initial test, 46.0% passed; of these, 15 consistently passed the second test (Group 1, Pass-Pass) and 2 failed (Group 2, Pass-Fail). No significant associations were found between demographic or job factors and the fit test outcomes. Average fit scores decreased from 100.79 (±58.22) initially to 32.25 (±66.54) in the second test, showing variability. Conclusion Ongoing training and experience improved fit consistency over time, emphasizing the importance of regular education. Rather than testing annually, targeted testing when selecting a new respirator or performing subsequent facial changes may enhance the protection of HCWs and reduce costs.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face an increased risk of airborne infections owing to close patient contact and extended shifts. N95 respirators require routine fit testing to ensure effective protection. This study assessed the fit stability of N95 masks among nurses working in airborne infection units, using annual fit tests to observe changes over time. Methods: From May 2020 to January 2023, 37 nurses from the high-risk airborne infection units of a university hospital participated in this study. The fit tests followed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Quantitative Fit Testing protocol, and non-parametric statistical analyses were applied. Nurses received formal annual training on N95 mask use and individualized guidance before each fit test. Results: In the initial test, 46.0% passed; of these, 15 consistently passed the second test (Group 1, Pass-Pass) and 2 failed (Group 2, Pass-Fail). No significant associations were found between demographic or job factors and the fit test outcomes. Average fit scores decreased from 100.79 (±58.22) initially to 32.25 (±66.54) in the second test, showing variability. Conclusion Ongoing training and experience improved fit consistency over time, emphasizing the importance of regular education. Rather than testing annually, targeted testing when selecting a new respirator or performing subsequent facial changes may enhance the protection of HCWs and reduce costs.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face an increased risk of airborne infections owing to close patient contact and extended shifts. N95 respirators require routine fit testing to ensure effective protection. This study assessed the fit stability of N95 masks among nurses working in airborne infection units, using annual fit tests to observe changes over time. Methods: From May 2020 to January 2023, 37 nurses from the high-risk airborne infection units of a university hospital participated in this study. The fit tests followed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Quantitative Fit Testing protocol, and non-parametric statistical analyses were applied. Nurses received formal annual training on N95 mask use and individualized guidance before each fit test. Results: In the initial test, 46.0% passed; of these, 15 consistently passed the second test (Group 1, Pass-Pass) and 2 failed (Group 2, Pass-Fail). No significant associations were found between demographic or job factors and the fit test outcomes. Average fit scores decreased from 100.79 (±58.22) initially to 32.25 (±66.54) in the second test, showing variability. Conclusion Ongoing training and experience improved fit consistency over time, emphasizing the importance of regular education. Rather than testing annually, targeted testing when selecting a new respirator or performing subsequent facial changes may enhance the protection of HCWs and reduce costs.

Background: To determine the risk of pregnancy complications and adverse offspring outcomes in Korean women with rheumatic diseases (RDs). Methods: Women aged 20–44 years with pregnancies ending in delivery were identified from the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Information Database (2009–2016).Women with RD including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (SPRA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (n = 4,284) were age-matched with controls (n = 26,023). Outcome variables included threatened abortion (TA), preterm birth (PB), preeclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E), intrauterine growth retardation (IGR), urinary tract infection, low birth weight (LBW) offsprings, and offspring death within 1 year of birth. Results: Women with RDs had increased risks for cesarean section delivery (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–1.6), TA (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2–1.5), PB (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.9–3.2), PE/E (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 3.3–5.9), and IGR (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 2.0–3.1) than the controls. The risk of pregnancy complications was increased in SLE and SPRA pregnancies but not in AS pregnancies. Offsprings of women with RDs had an increased risk of LBW (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 3.2–4.9). The offspring mortality rate within 1 year of birth was higher in women with RDs (6.2/10,000 persons) than in the controls (4.9/10,000 persons). Conclusion Women with RDs are at a risk of developing pregnancy complications, and the risk of LBW offsprings and offspring death within 1 year of birth is increased in these women.Therefore, this population requires special attention during their childbearing years.

PURPOSE: The objective of the current study was to compare surgical outcomes and prognosis based on the longitudinal location of stomach tumors in patients undergoing curative treatment. The specific focus was on the prognosis for adenocarcinomas in the proximal upper-third of the stomach, excluding tumors in the esophagogastric junction (EGJ).METHODS: Data from patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2000 and 2010 at a single institution were analyzed retrospectively. Excluding tumors of EGJ origin, data from 797 patients were reviewed—686 with distal gastric cancer and 111 with proximal gastric cancer. Clinicopathology features, tumor stage, surgical outcomes, recurrence, and survival were compared between the groups.RESULTS: Gastric cancer recurred in 136 of the patients (17.1%). Although differences were detected between proximal and distal cancer patients in the prevalence in males versus females (74.8% vs. 63.4%, P=0.020) and in undifferentiated histology (60.4% vs. 47.7%, P=0.013), the prognosis for proximal gastric cancer did not differ from distal gastric cancer. The overall 5-year disease-free survival rate was 84.9% and 81.4% in proximal and distal cancer patients, respectively (P=0.389).CONCLUSION: The prognosis of proximal cancer, excluding tumors of EGJ origin, did not differ from the prognosis of more distal gastric cancer. Clarifying the prognosis of proximal gastric cancer will require the large-scale comparison of an organized, multi-institution database.
Adenocarcinoma ; Disease-Free Survival ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

Background/Aims: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of comorbidities and medication use in Korean women with rheumatic diseases (RDs) during their childbearing years. Methods: We included women aged 20 to 44 years with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (n = 41,547) and age-matched women without seropositive RA, SLE, and AS (n = 208,941) from the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Information Database (2009 to 2016). The prevalence of hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and cancer and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids (CSs), and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were estimated. Results: Women of childbearing age with RDs were more likely to have at least one of the measured comorbidities than the controls (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9 to 3.1). The OR (95% CI) was 2.9 (2.8 to 3.0) for HTN, 2.8 (2.7 to 2.9) for HLD, 1.4 (1.4 to 1.5) for DM, and 1.3 (1.3 to 1.4) for cancer. The SLE group had the highest prevalence and odds of all four measured comorbidities. Almost all (97.9%) women of childbearing age with RDs were taking RD-related medications (NSAIDs, 81.6%; CSs, 77.8%; DMARDs, 87.3%). The RD group was 13.8 times more likely to take NSAIDs and 68.2 times more likely to take CSs than the controls. Use of NSAIDs was more prevalent in RA and AS than SLE, whereas use of CSs and DMARDs was more prevalent in RA and SLE than AS. Conclusions Korean women with RDs have a greater burden of comorbidities and medication use during their childbearing years than women without RDs of the same age.